Word for the Week

The word of the Lord came to me: 

"What do you people mean by quoting this proverb 

about the land of Israel: 

'The fathers eat sour grapes, 

and the children's teeth are set on edge'"?

Ezekiel 18:1-2

The current Israelites were playing the blame game - blaming their fathers' sin for their circumstances. How often do we do this same thing, blaming others for our situation? Blaming parents, co-workers, using the "She did it first" or "She started it" mentality. Blaming someone else's actions for our responses. 

The soul who sins is the one who will die. 

The son will not share the guilt of the father, 

nor will the father share the guilt of the son.

Ezekiel 18:20

We are responsible for our own actions. Not our parents, our environment, our situation. 

Therefore, O house of Israel, 

I will judge you, 

each one according to his ways, 

declares the Sovereign Lord. 

Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; 

then sin will not be your downfall. 

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, 

and get a new heart and a new spirit. 

Ezekiel 18: 30-31

How should we respond when we're tempted to play the blame game? Stop and turn away from what our "normal" response would be. And get a new heart. We need a heart transplant. One gave His heart for us many years ago. Receive it. Jesus died and gave His life for us that we might live victoriously and eternally. 

~ from yesterday's Sunday School lesson taught by Nellita Young